Benson Lake
Benson Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 28 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Benson Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10.6 ft
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 28 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Vilas County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Why Benson Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Benson Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Benson Lake is a 28-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Benson Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Benson Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.6 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Benson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Benson Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Benson Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Benson Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Benson Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Manitowish RiverPublic
- Benson Lake at Benson Lake RoadPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Benson Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.167 m/yr | 2 |
Graded lakes near Benson Lake
Benson Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Benson Lake
Where is Benson Lake?
- Benson Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Benson Lake?
- Benson Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.6 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 28 acres.
Is Benson Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Benson Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Benson Lake?
- Benson Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 28 acres.
What fish are in Benson Lake?
- Fish species found in Benson Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sturgeon. Benson Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Benson Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Benson Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Benson Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Benson Lake?
- Benson Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Manitowish River, Benson Lake at Benson Lake Road. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Benson Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX10 samples · 2020–2023
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory